On The Verge of Tears

Today, at NFL Films in Mt Laurel, we had a company wide memorial service for our fallen and fearless leader, Steve Sabol, who recently died from brain cancer that was diagnosed only a year ago, and whom was still walking the halls of our building just three months ago.
In this picture, you can see our new sign, with our new address, covered by a black blanket. It was uncovered, after a short speech, by his wife, his sister Blair, whom our original company was named after by Steve’s father, Big Ed, and Hank McElwee, famed cinematographer who still runs the film show out here.
We are now located at One Sabol Plaza (good luck with that one on your GPS)

They set up a stage and speakers, and gave a eulogy before unveiling the sign.

We raised a new flag, as well. That’s Steve’s initials, and the design that he used with his artwork and collages that have been appearing in galleries the last few years.

The flagpoles in the front lawn of NFL Films was actually one of Steve’s last requests. We never had them before last year, and he thought that we should. The third flag pole was flying a Giant’s logo last week, and it was supposed to commemorate the reigning Super Bowl Champions. That tradition was short lived.  The tree in the foreground was planted in memory of Steve, who loved the outdoors, and symbolizes the continued growth of NFL Films.

Others took photos as well, and some, perhaps, felt some kind of closure.

The new sign at our entrance…

…which of course was filmed for a future highlight of the day’s ceremony. This one was for Steve’s “family,” those of us at the continue to carry his vision and are his living legacy.
There will be another, much larger, ceremony in February, after the Super Bowl at the Kimmel Center. It will be the first Super Bowl ever that Steve will not attend.

This is the “Bridge” at our building that connects the administrative side of the building to the technology side. It’s now named something different.

“Sudden Death Sabol,” as he was nicknamed, now takes on a completely different, and poignant meaning.

Inside our lobby, a new picture greets visitor to our location. A picture of Ed and Steve Sabol, a few years back, when Ed accepted his last Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement. A few years later, Steve was there when his father was inducted into the Hall of Fame, something that we all hoped Ed would be alive to see. Now, we’re lucky that Steve was as well.